Chapter 6

The inside of the club was roomy. The dance floor being the biggest part of it. By the door stood the bar, customers lingering all around it. There were tables scattered throughout the room in no order whatsoever.

The atmosphere in the club was something else. People were having fun all around them. Some were dancing, some drinking or just chatting in some corners. In other corners couples could be seen locking lips.

Moves like "The Twist" or "The Mashed Potato" and "The Shake" were filling the dance floor and bringing the whole atmosphere up. Everyone was so nicely dressed. Girls wore both dresses and trousers with blouses. Men wore shirts or full-body suits.

Valerie and Emma went to get their drinks first, so they sat at the table nearest to the "stage". Emma ordered Sidecar and Valerie decided to try Mint Julep. She wasn't really a drinking person, but that night she wanted to let loose.

The music was so loud they couldn't hear whatever small talk were they trying to have with each other. After waiter brought out their drinks, Emma spun in her chair. She was beaming with happiness when she felt the sweet citrusy smell prickling at her nostrils. Valerie wasn't having the same reaction as her friend, but she was also happy with her drink choice.

As they relaxed in their chairs, "Loco-Motion" by Little Eva started to play on one of those jukebox machines. The dance floor started getting crowded.

"We have to dance." said Emma excitedly and made a motion to get up from the table.

"Wait." said Valerie in a loud tone, trying to overpower the loud music coming from all around them. "We just got here, got our drinks. We don't have to dance at the first song they play."

"Ah, that's true." she sighed. "Also, I don't think my feet would be grateful if I started dancing right away."

"Exactly." Laughed Valerie. "Night is still young."

"What did you say?!" yelled Emma trying to understand her friend. Valerie tried repeating herself, but the crowd got louder, and she just gave up. Instead she gave Emma a soft smile and took a sip of her drink.

They sat like that for a while, when a dashing young man in a soldier's uniform walked towards their table. He was probably on his leave and wanted to have some fun. Valerie could see him looking directly at Emma, whose back was turned to him. The man was tall, maybe somewhere about six feet and had gorgeous warm brown hair. When he reached the table, he simply pulled out a chair and sat in it.

"Good evening, ladies." He said while smirking. His accent very noticeable, being the one of the southern accents. "Now, why are such beautiful ladies sitting all alone?"

Emma scoffed at him. "Well, soldier." she said seductively. "Nobody asked us to dance yet. Now isn't that a tragedy?"

Valerie simply smiled at her friends dramatical antics and took another sip of her drink. It wasn't that strong, so she didn't feel the effects yet. 'I will for sure feel them later.' she thought.

"Well, that just isn't right." exclaimed the soldier. "Would you care to dance, sweetheart?"

He asked Emma in his most charming way, showing a smile worth of thousand dollars, all whites.

"That's very generous of you, soldier." Sighed Emma. "But how could I leave my friend to sit here alone?"

Before Valerie could state that she was completely fine sitting and the table and drinking her drink, Emma winked at her.

"We can't have that, now can we?" he turned his head toward the ways he came from, waved a hand and whistled. Suddenly, a tall handsome soldier was coming their way. He was a bit taller than the southern gentleman. His hair was short, and he had a moustache.

"Hello, ladies." The man had a strong Italian accent. "I see you already met this guy here. Did he managed to scare you away?

He laughed and his friend was ready to fight, play fight that is. Emma and Valerie just smiled at them. It must've been a relief for them, to be home after being on the front, to experience life a bit more.

"I'm Mike and this is my buddy Joel." said the blond guy. "So, what was that about dancing?"

Both girls laughed, finished their drinks, stood up and took the hands, which both soldiers offered. The music changed to a fast rhythm, perfect for dancing. They went up to the dance floor and managed to find a spot to dance in. They twisted and turned for what seemed like an hour, but was, only a few minutes.

Emma seemed to have so much fun dancing with Mike, even though Valerie noticed her eyes slipping from him towards the table behind them. At the table five girls were sitting, most of them in short dresses as they drank their drinks. 'Why would she be looking at them? Weird…' she thought.

Valerie was pulled back from her thoughts as Joel lifted her and spun them. She laughed so hard while she tried to follow the rhythm of the songs. Now Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman" started playing. Joel held Valerie while they danced, and she was very proud that she never even stepped on his shoes during the dance.

When all songs finished and they got tired of dancing, they decided to take a break and drink something. Guys bought girls their drinks and they settled at a table in the corner. Mike's eyes were ogling Emma's body up and down, but she didn't seem uncomfortable per say. She looked more as she was bored.

"Everything okay, sweet cheeks?" asked Mike, before whispering to her. "Want to get out of here and spend some time alone?"

He wiggled his eyebrows and Emma simply looked away. 'Something is wrong with her.' Thought Valerie while Joel caressed her wrist. Emma smiled at Mike and excused herself to go to the ladies' room. That meant that Valerie had to go with her, because ladies never go to the toilet alone.

"Excuse us." smiled Emma and dragged Valerie with her.

In the ladies' room were a few women touching up their make up or just waiting for the friend to be over with her business. Emma went straight to the faucets and washed her face a few times. By the time she was done, the two of them were the only ones left in the toilet.

Valerie looked at Emma and something didn't feel right. "Emma, is everything okay?"

"Yes." smiled Emma at her friend, but it wasn't one of her usual smiles. This was one was just a pretend. "Why would it seem that something is wrong?"

"Well, we have been here for only an hour and a half and you look really exhausted and bored, quite frankly." said Valerie.

"I'm not feeling very well." sighed Emma." It's probably from those drinks."

"Okay, maybe we should head home then." said Valerie and went to grab Emma who looked like a ghost, so unusual for her. They went out to dance before and they would sometimes stay till four A.M. even. This wasn't like her friend at all.

"No, no." Emma moved away from her friend. "How about you have some fun? Hm?" She said suddenly and confused Valerie.

"What do you mean?" asked Valerie, her probably drunk friend. "We can't just stay when you're not feeling well."

"That's true." smirked Emma. "But I will go home, and you and Joel can have some more fun."

She sang Joel's name like a child teasing another. "Yeah, that is not happening. Come on, we are going home."

"No. Listen to me for once, Val." Emma said in stern voice, well more like drunk stern now that she noticed. "You never have any fun… No, don't interrupt me… You never have any fun and you always go home after dancing. Well, now that you are living with me, you can return at whatever time you want."

Emma cupped Valerie's confused face. "And that means, to go get some fun with Joel and experience something exciting. Maybe lose something also."

"Something exciting, you mean like, sleep with Joel. Emma, are you crazy? I just met him." Valerie started to yell.

"Okay, you just met him, but he is a soldier, so it means you probably won't see him anymore." Emma said. "And this way you can get rid of the last control your parents had over you."

It was true she never slept with a man and that she was still a virgin. Her parents would be furious if she didn't wait till marriage. 'That's true. They would be pissed.' At that thought Valerie smiled at her drunk friend.

"Ah, okay." Valerie said defeated. "Let's try it. It probably won't hurt to try."

"That's the spirit!" exclaimed Emma. "Be sure to use protection though. Now let's go back to soldiers."

"What about Mike?" asked Valerie her friend. "Won't he be mad that you are leaving?"

"Oh, Mike." Emma stumbled in her step. „I guess I'll just say goodbye to him and explain everything. Truth to be told he is a bit of a bore, so I don't fancy him going home with me."

"Okay, you know the best." responded Valerie.

With that they left the ladies' room and went to the table.